Machine for making wire straps



Jan. 3, 1939. E. s. HALL MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE STRAPS Filed Sept. 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet llNVEN TO ATTORNEYS \J I Jan 3, 1939., E. s. HALL Y. 2,14 ,5 MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE STRAPS 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1957 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edwin S. Hall, New Haven, Conn., assignor to Griplock, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 2, 1937, Serial No. 162,099

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for making Wire straps used for securing and reinforcing boxes, crates, or similar articles, and has for an object to provide means for forming a locking seal on one end of a continuous supply of wire and cutting the wire to form a strap of any predetermined length.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking seal forming means which positively con trols the position and movement of the free end of the wire supply as it is being twisted around the shank or body of the wire.

Another object is to provide a locking seal forming means in which the number of moving parts is minimized and arranged to produce a uniform product with speed and accuracy.

Another object is to provide a locking seal forming means in combination with mechanism for actuating said forming means and thereafter actuating the feeding and cutting devices so that the series of operations is automatic, correlated, and continuous, and a relatively high speed in the manufacture of the straps may be attained.

Another object consists in providing certain improvements in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts whereby the above named and other objects may effectively be attained.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a portion of a wire strap forming machine having my invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the adjustable cam f or controlling the position of the wire feeding wheels with respect to the wire to be fed forwardly;

Fig. 4' represents a detail horizontal section, on a larger scale, of the mechanism for cutting the wire, bending the cut end, and coiling the same about the shank or body of the wire to form the seal section;

Fig. 5 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line VV of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the means for supporting the body of the wire and mandrel during a portion of the operation and mechanism for actuating the same, parts being shown in different positions in full and broken lines;

Fig. 6 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line VIVI of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the mechanism for cutting the wire;

Fig. 7 represents a detail plan view of the coiled end of the wire which forms the locking seal for the strap;

Fig. 8 represents a front elevation, on a still larger scale, of the means for coiling the cut end 5 of the wire around the shank or body of the Wire and mandrel to form the open seal section of the strap;

Fig. 9 represents a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the same; and I 10 Fig. 10 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line X-X of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The subject matter is of the same general nature as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,427,962 dated September 5, 1922, and it is calculated to form the locking seal, feed the wire a predetermined distance away from the seal forming means, and cut the wire from a continuous supply of wire, but it diifers materially in the provision of means for forming the locking seal and in various features of construction and actuation of the parts.

The several parts of the machine may be mounted on a suitable bed denoted by I having 2'5 a series of vertical bearing posts thereon which will be described in connection with the specific parts supported thereby.

The bearing post 2 is formed on a base 3 fixed to the bed I and has adjustably secured therein a cylindrical member 4. This member 4 has a central longitudinal bore 5 through which the wire 6 from the supply coil (not shown) is moved and guided. A mandrel l is fixed in a longitudinal recess 8 in the wall of the bore 5 by means of a set screw 9 threaded in the member 4, so that the wire and mandrel will be juxtaposed. The exterior diameter of the end of the member 4 is reduced, as shown at In in Fig. 4, and arranged to receive a rotary tubular element II which extends beyond the member 4 to form a hollow tubular chamber I2. The end of the element ll extending beyond the member 4 has formed therein a longitudinal spiral slot 13 terminating in a mouth l4 adjacent a hook l5 formed by cutting the slot E3 to the end of the element. The element I I is arranged to be rotated in a cylindrical guide l6, one end of which is fixed in a post H by a set screw 18, which post has a base I9 mounted on the bed i. The other end of the cylindrical guide It is formed with a helical slot 20 arranged to overlap and intersect the spiral slot l3 in the element ll. Thus it will be seen that the element ll may be rotatedbetween the stationary meniber 4 and fixed cylindrical guide l6, and the portion of the element extending beyond the member 4 forms the chamber |2 around the projecting end of the mandrel 1, in which chamber the look-- ing seal is developed on the body of the wire. The hook I 5 in the end of the element II is disposed to engage the free end of the wire, after the same has been bent as will be described, and

'by its rotation directs it through the mouth I4 into the longitudinal spiral slot l3 where it will be brought into the overlapping and intersecting helical slot 28 of the cylindrical guide l6.

As the wire is fed longitudinally through the member 4, it is necessary, in order that the free end of the wire to be operated upon is brought into the path of the rotating hook l5 of the element H, to bend the end of the wire 6 upwardly into a substantially vertical position. This result is accomplished by means of a bender arm 22 having a shoulder 22*, which arm is adjustably fixed to rotate with a horizontally disposed shaft 23, journaled in bearing posts 24, 25 fixed on the bed I and an intermediate bearing post 26 integral with the base I9. The outer end of the arm 22 which engages the wire 6 is provided with a hardened contacting piece 28 removably secured thereto by a bolt 29 and nut 38. To assist the arm 22 in bending the wire 6 at a proper point to be engaged by the hook |5, there is provided an upper finger 3| which extends laterally over the body of the wire from a plate 32. This plate is removably fixed to one arm 33 of a bell crank lever 34 mounted to oscillate on a shaft 35, one end of which is journaled in the post l1 and the other end in a post 36 integral with a base 31 carried by the bed I. The other arm 38 of the bell crank lever 34 is provided with branches 39,. 48 adjustably secured thereto by a bolt 4| and carrying rollers 42, 43, respectively, for engagement with a cam 44 fixed on the shaft 23. This cam 44 actuates the bell crank lever 34 to place the finger 3| in position to resist the upward movement of the wire by the arm 22, and also to move the finger outwardly from operative position. Another bell crank lever 45 is mounted to oscillate on the shaft 35 and has one arm 46 disposed to carry a removable plate 41 having an L-shaped finger 48 secured thereon in position to coact with the finger 3|, between which fingers 3| and 48 the wire 6 and mandrel 1 are embraced during the bending of the wire 6 by the arm 29. The finger 48 is moved into and out of operative position by means of a cam 49 similar to the cam 44, which is also fast on the shaft 23. The bell crank lever 45 is constructed similarly to the bell crank lever 34 and has an arm 50 carrying adjustable branches 5|, 52 fixed thereto by a bolt 53, upon which branches 5|, 52, rollers 54, 55, respectively, are mounted for engaging the cam 49. Thus it will be seen that the wire 6 will be held between the mandrel 1 and junction of the plate 32 and finger 3| by the L-shaped finger 48 so that the arm 22 will bend the wire while the fingers 3| and 48 are in their co-operative positions, as shown in Fig. 5, after which the cams 44, 49 will actuate their respective bell crank levers 34, 45 and move the fingers 3| and 48 to the inoperative positions shown in broken outline in Fig. 5.

After the free end of the wire has been bent upwardly into a substantially vertical position, it is then engaged by the hook l5 which forces it against the shoulder 22* of the arm 22 to bend it rearwardly as it is' twisted by the rotation of the element II to form a bight 56, see Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive. The free end of the wire now leaves the hook I5 and enters the spiral slot l3 where it is moved to the left by the shape of the rotating spiral slot until it enters the helical slot 28 in the cylindrical guide I6 and is guided to the intersection of the slots l3 and 28. While the end of the wire is being guided by the slot 28, it is also being coiled around the body of the wire and mandrel by the rotating, element so that the wire will gradually disappear through the intersection of the slots i3 and 28 and be wrapped around the body of the wire and mandrel in the chamber 2.

When the end of the wire has been twisted around the body and mandrel a predetermined number of coils to form the complete locking seal, the wire supply is fed forwardly by the intermittently operated feeding mechanism. This mechanism comprises a lower grooved wheel 51 mounted on a shaft 58 journaled in posts 59, 68 on the bed and an upper friction wheel 6| fixed on a shaft 62 journaled in eccentric bearings 63, 64 carried by the posts 59, 68 respectively. The upper wheel 6| is moved into contact with the wire on the lower wheel 51 by means of an arm 65 arranged to oscillate the eccentric bearings and hence the shaft 58. The movement of this arm 65 is governed by a cam 66 upon which it rests and with which it is held in contact therewith by a spring 61. The period of time during which the spring 61 is permitted to hold the wheel 6| in contact with the wire on the wheel 51 is controlled by a slotted rotatably adjustable plate 68 secured to the cam 66 by a bolt 69 and nut 18. When the arm' 65 is riding on the high perimeter of the cam 66 and plate 68, the wheel 6| is held out of contact with the wire 6 on wheel 51. When, however, the arm 65 rests in the recess or lower level 1| between the high portions of the cam and plate, the spring 61 attached to the arm rocks the eccentric bearings 63, 64 and lowers the shaft 62 so that the wheel 6| will frictionally engage and press the wire on the wheel 51. It is during the period the wire 6 and wheels 51, 6| are in contact that the length of wire forming the body of the strap being produced is rapidly advanced for delivery when severed by the cutting device 12.

This cutting device comprises a cutter 13 rigidly secured to the post 36 and a blade 14 removably fixed in a frame 15 having its end bifurcated at 16 to ride on the hub 11 of the cutter 13. The frame 15 and blade 14 are reciprocated by means of an eccentric 18 fast on the shaft 23, and arranged to be rotated in the end of the frame 15. As the shaft 23 and eccentric 18 are rotated, the

frame 15 is reciprocated so that the blade 14 coacts with the cutter 13 to sever the body from the wire supply. The timing of the several parts is such that, when the locking seal is completed, the body of the strap will be engaged by the wheel 6| and the seal passed between the cutter 13, blade 14 and through the bifurcated end 16 of the frame 15 while the blade is spaced from the cutter, and at this time the wire will be fed rapidly so that the desired length of the body of the strap will be obtained. After the desired length of strap from the wire supply has been passed between the blade and cutter, the eccentric 18 on the shaft 23 will actuate the frame 15 and move the blade 14 into coaction with the cutter 13 to sever the strap from the wire supply. The cutter and blade may both be adjusted rotatably to present new cutting edges to the work when desired.

The parts of the machine are so co-ordinated that upon the completion of the severance of the Wire by the blade and cutter, the contact piece 28 on the arm 22 engages the free end of the wire supply at a point adjacent the end of the mandrel and fingers, and it is bent upwardly against the finger i so as to be in position to be engaged by the hook [5 of the rotating element II, where it is twisted to form the bight 56 and then led into the spiral slot I3 of the element II and the helical slot 29 in the cylindrical guide 16, which slot l3 directs and moves the wire end through the stationary helical slot 20 so that it may be coiled around the body of the wire in spaced relation to form the locking seal.

The means for driving the several parts comprises, a main drive shaft 19 having a bevel gear fixed thereon meshing with a bevel gear 8| fast on a shaft 82 having one end journaled in a post 83 on the base 3 and the other end journaled in a post 86 on the base I9. This shaft 82 has fixed thereon spur gears 85, 86, of which the gear 85 meshes with a gear 81 fast on the shaft 23 for actuating the bender arm 22, cams 66, 44 and 49, the eccentric 18 and their coacting parts. The gear 86 on the shaft 82 meshes with a spur gear 88 secured to the element II by a set screw 89 for rotating it. While I have shown no means for driving the wheel 51, it is to be understood that the shaft 58 upon which the wheel is mounted may. if desired, be driven from a source of power (not shown) or it may be geared to the shaft 19 in any well known or approved way so as tofacilitate the intermittent feed of the wire.

In practice, the shaft 23 is geared to make one complete revolution for each strap formed; thus the cams 65, M, 45, bender arm 22 and eccentric 18 will also make one complete revolution, while the element l l which actuates the free end of the wire to form the coils on the body is designed to make approximately twelve revolutions to complete the locking seal.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from th spirit and scope of my invention, and hence, I do not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except as they may be included in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for forming locking seals on wire straps comprising, means for feeding the wire, means for bending an end of the wire at an angle to its body, and means for wrapping the bent end portion around the wire body in open loops, said last named means including tubular members one within the other through which the wire is adapted to be fed, the Walls of each member being provided with a curved slot through which the bent end of the wire may pass, the pitch of the slots being such as to cause them to follow intersecting paths.

2. A machine for forming locking seals on wire straps comprising, means for feeding the wire, means for bending an end of the wire at an angle to its body, and means for wrapping the bent end portion around the wire body in open loops, said last named means including tubular members one within the other through which the wire is adapted to be fed, the walls of each member being provided with a curved slot through which the bent end of the wire may pass, the pitch of the slots being such as to cause them to follow intersecting paths, one slot extending partly around the circumference of its member, and the other slot extending more than once around the circumference of its member.

3. A machine for forming locking seals on wire straps comprising, means for feeding the wire, means for bending an end of the wire at an angle to itsbcdy, and means for wrapping the bent end portion around the wire body in open loops, said last named means including tubular members one within the other through which the wire is adapted to be fed, the walls of each member being provided with a curved slot through which the bent end of the wire may pass, the pitch of the slots being such as to cause them to follow intersecting paths, the slot in the inner member extending partly around the circumference of its member, and the slot in the outer member extending more than once around the circumference of its memher.

4. In a machine for forming locking seals on wire straps, the combination with a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a severing device, and a deflecting means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body, of means for coiling the bent end in open coils around the body of the wire, said means comprising a fixed member having a central longitudinal bore for guiding the wire, a mandrel in said bore in juxtaposed relation to the wire, a rotatable element arranged to engage the bent end of the wire and wrap it around the body of the wire and mandrel, and a guide surrounding said element and having an opening therethrough for the passage of the end of the wire, the walls of said opening serving to guide the bent end of the wire longitudinally on the body of the wire and mandrel.

5. In a machine for forming locking seals on Wire straps, the combination with a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a severing device. and a deflecting means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body, of means for coiling the bent end in open coils around the body of the wire, said means comprising a fixed member having a central longitudinal bore for guiding the wire. a mandrel secured in the walls of said bore and in juxtaposed relation to the Wire. said mandrel projecting outwardly from said member, an element rotatable on the member and arranged to engage the bent end of the wire and wrap it around the body of the wire and mandrel. and a stationary gu de surrounding the element and having an opening therethrough for the passage of the bent end of the wire, the walls of said opening serving to gu de the bent end of the wire longitudinally on the body of the wire and mandrel.

6. In a machine for forming locking seals on wire straps. the combinat on with a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply. a severing device, and a deflecting means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body. of means for coiling the bent end in open coils around the body of the wire, said means comprising a fixed member having a central longitudinal bore for guiding the wire, a mandrel secured in the walls of said bore and in juxtaposed relation to the wire, said mandrel projecting outwardly from said member, an element having one end rotatable on the member and the other end rotatable around the body of the wire and projecting end of the wire longitudinally on the body of the wire and mandrel.

'7. In a machine for forming locking seals on Wire straps, the combination with a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a severing device, and a deflecting means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body, of means for coiling the bent end in open coils around the body of the wire, said means comprising a fixed member having a central longitudinal bore for guiding the wire, a mandrel secured in the walls of said bore and in juxtaposed relation to the wire, said mandrel projecting outwardly from said member, an element having one end rotatable on the member and the other end spaced from the body of the wire and projecting end of the mandrel to form a hollow tubular chamber, the end walls of said element surrounding said chamber being formed with means for engaging the bent end of the Wire and wrapping it around the body of the wire and mandrel, and a stationary guide surrounding the element and having an opening therethrough for the passage of the bent end of the wire, the walls of said opening serving to guide the bent end of the wire longitudinally on the body of the wire and mandrel in the chamher.

8. In a machine for forming locking seals on Wire straps, the combination with a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a severing device, and a deflecting means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body, of means for coiling the bent end in open coils around the body of the wire, said means comprising a fixed member having a central longitudinal bore for guiding the wire, a mandrel secured in the walls of said bore and in juxtaposed relation to the wire, said mandrel projecting outwardly from said member, an element having one end rotatable on the member and the other end spaced from the body of the wire and projecting end of the mandrel to form a hollow tubular chamber, the end walls of said element surrounding said chamber being formed with means for engaging the bent end of the wire and wrapping it around the body of the wire and mandrel, a slot in the walls of the chamber cooperating with said means, and a stationary guide surrounding the element and having an opening therethrough intersecting said slot in the element for the passage of the bent end of the wire, the walls of said opening and slot serving to guide the bent end of the wire longitudinally on the body of the wire and mandrel in the chamber.

9. In a machine for forming locking seals on wire straps, the combination with a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a severing device, and a deflecting means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body, of means for coiling the bent end in open coils around the body of the wire, said means comprising a fixed member having a central longitudinal bore for guiding the wire, a mandrel secured in the walls of said bore and in juxtaposed relation to the wire, said mandrel projecting outwardly from said member, an element having one end rotatable on the member and the other end spaced from the body of the wire and projecting end 01' the mandrel to form a hollow tubular chamber, the end walls of said element surrounding said chamber being formed with a hook for engaging the bent end of the wire and Wrapping it around the body of the wire and mandrel, a longitudinal spiral slot in the Walls of the chamber co-operating with said hook, and a stationary guide surrounding the element and having a helical opening therethrough intersecting said spiral slot in the element for the passage of the bent end of the wire, the walls of said opening and slot serving to guide the bent end of the wire longitudinally on the body of the wire and mandrel in the chamber.

10. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling the end of the Wire in open coils around the body of the wire, said means including a pair of elements movable with respect to each other and provided with intersecting slots for receiving and coiling the wire end.

11. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling the end of the wire in open coils around the body of the wire, said means including a pair of elements arranged for relative move ment one within the other and provided with intersecting slots for receiving and coiling the wire end.

12. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling the end of the wire in open coils around the body of the wire, said means including a pair of tubular elements arranged to: relative rotary movement one within the other and provided with intersecting slots for receiving and coiling the wire end.

13. A machine for forming locking seals on wire straps comprising, a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a member for guiding the wire, a mandrel projecting from said member, an oscillatory means comprising fingers arranged to be brought into and out of contact with the body of the wire and outer end of the mandrel for steadying the same, said fingers arranged to embrace the wire and mandrel on opposite sides, a deflecting means coactlng with said oscillatorymeans for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body of the wire, and means for coiling the bent end of the wire in open coils around the body of the wire and mandrel.

14. A machine for forming locking seals on wire straps comprising, a mechanism for feeding the wire from a continuous supply, a member for guiding the wire, a mandrel projecting from said member, an oscillatory means comprising fingers arranged to be brought into and out of contact with the body of the 'wire and outer end of the mandrel for steadying the same, said fingers arranged to embrace the wire and mandrel on opposite sides, a deflecting means coacting with said oscillatory means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the body of the wire, and means for coiling the bent end of the wire in open coils around the body of the wire and mandrel, said oscillatory means comprising pairs of angularly disposed arms extending from a point of oscillation, one of said arms carrying the said fingers, and the other arm being fitted to engage actuating mechanism.

EDWIN S. HALL. 

